Paper short abstract:

Foreign-elderly aging needs have motivated younger generations to seek recognition within Japan's long-term care system. They have created space where language, culture, tradition, food, and activities enliven nostalgic memories of "homeland", providing a sense of security and comfort for the aging.

Paper long abstract:

The Japanese government in April 2000 implemented the "long-term care insurance law" to improve the quality of health care services for an aging population. It aimed to alleviate the burden from family-based care to an integrated central and local welfare policy. The new care system introduced various services. The concept of "care management" also encouraged the private sector to act as a service provider.

The enactment of this long-term care system mobilized Zainichi Koreans, one of the largest ethnic minorities, for the benefit of their first generation parents. Zainichi women stood at the forefront petitioning the Japanese government to acknowledge their "cultural" needs that did not fit into a uniform and standardized Japanese system. Through women's groups in ethnic organizations, faith-based facilities, and community networks, Zainichi women became the representative voice speaking for the first generation.

Aging and care needs of an increasing number of foreign long-term residents have motivated younger generation immigrants to seek similar recognition within Japan's long-term care system. Through the emotional sentiment of "paying back debt" (ongaeshi) to the first-generation parents who have aged in Japan, the younger generation displays agency in the idea of "taking care of our own". Through creating a space where language, culture, tradition, food, and activities enliven the nostalgic memories of the first generation, an imaginary "homeland" is constructed providing a sense of security and comfort for their parents who are aging in a foreign land.

This paper presents examples of "Day-service" NPOs for Zainichi Koreans, Japanese-orphan returnees from China, and former Vietnamese refugees, who have incorporated their "ethnic-cultural needs" within the care of their elderly. I argue that the narrative of "emotional fulfillment within ethnic-cultural needs" for the aging foreign residents has added a new dimension to Japan's long term care-insurance system, further broadening the discussion of a "multi-ethnic" Japan.